Tank gauging device



I v 31" ,77 f 2 29 Q May 5, 1953 p, McDUFF 2,637,111

TANK GAUGING DEVICE Filed March 2'7, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 1 16- 1. FIG. 3. 1/ l5 1 ArTozvE-Y y 5, 1953 P. MGDUFF 2,537,111

TANK GAUGING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1947 v 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Fir-2;. 41 Fara. 6.

n llllli 15/ r -r5 Mc Du PF 7 INVENTOR.

BYMXM A Tram/EV ?atented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

1 This" invention relates to gaugingjapparatus fcroil storage tanks, and it-h'as particular ref erence to a device for gauging the contents of tanks of large capacity; and its principal object resides in" the provision ofapparatus' by" which oil levels in storage can" bereadily determined with a minimum of effort and safety at allhcurs and such'operation can beperformed without releasing the gases from the tank:

An object of the invention is'that of providing a flexible, enclosed gauging" tapeadapted to be reeled and unreeled within-assa led housingin which 'a glazed' viewing port is provided through which-the gauge can be observed and accurate readings ta-ken T withoiit exposing the i observer to dangerous gases from-the tank ci -subjectingthe gauge to wind pressures-Which tend to im pair the accuracy of: the 'gau'ge and :scatter the oil.v

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision-of a gauging device for oil tanks which can be installed with economy and afford a ready means for measuring the tank contents without'the use of tools, or'other instruments, for opening thief holes; valves, or the like, through which to lowera gauge line.

Another objectof the inventionjresides' inthe provision of means 'for illuminating the interior of the sealed gaugehousi-ng whereby to afford adequate visibility 'of l the "gauge. for accurate readings.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the "provision :of a tankgauging apparatus w'hichis completely self-contained and; includes a manually actuated gauge wiping mechanism embodied in the'housing by which oil' adheringto (said gauge is freed therefrom, as the'latter is "reeled upwardly, and caused to drain back into the tank.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the gauge housing, showing the glazed viewing port therein and illustrating the flexible gauge.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the invention, taken on lines 2-2 of Figure 3, showing the reeled gauge and lamp.

Figure 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the invention, taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the reel crank.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the invention illustrating the gauge wiping mechanism, a part of the housing therefor being shown removed.

Figure 5" is a lateral cross-sectional View through the"wi'pen housing," taken on lines 5-fi of Figure 4, showing they wiping mechanismin plan,.and V Figure 6'illustrates'the invention, in side'jele vation; shown supported on a foot" actuated gate valve on a tank head.

The" invention includes a sealed housing ill which may be of'any' desired' iorm but which is illustrated as: being "rectangular in ,its main body/portion H and hasia dependingfinteriorlyi threaded" portion byi which the, housing l E] is coupled to the upper-"end of a tube'flZ whose lower 'end'is threaded into" thetop of a gate valve 13 -arranged in".ithetop orhead" it oi'a conventional" storage tan-k (not shown) The housing ill'has a-relatively narrow passage .l5arrange'd'horizontaHy therethrough; of greater height than width, as "shown in Figures 2 and3, and aroller I6 is pivotaliy"'supported' in the passage l 5'-'by.a-pin ITarrangedfthrough one-wall of the housingil Wand extending: into a bore IB'intheopposite wall.v Thehea'd id of thepi'n l! is threaded. into.'the"housingiwall, as shown in Figure 3;

g The passage [5 is open *to the-re r of i the housing '1 ll 'to'which is "secureda casing 29 "for a flexible steel gauge line 21 arranged on a reel 22 one pivot 23$ The'casingfil isclos'ed by a plate Msecu'redby screwsiilfifor the like. The gauge line 2! "is operativelyarranged-over the roller 16 "in' the'pa'ssageltand down through a port 26 in thebottom'of thehousing "wand extending throughthe tube" [2 and. the valve 1 3, when the latteris opened; into thetanktbeiow; as in Figures 4' and 6;

hinged closure 2'!" in which is arranged a transparent disk 28 through which the gauge line 2! can be viewed, as in Figures 1 and 2. The closure 21 is secured by a plurality of suitable screws 29 and is sealed by a gasket 30 around the seat a. Another gasket 3| affords an additional seal about the disk 28.

A battery energized lamp 32 is provided to illuminate the interior of the housing [0 and. is directed upon the gauge line 2| therein to afford adequate visibility under all conditions. The lamp 32 and its batteries 33 are encased within a tubular casing 34 which is enclosed in a larger casing 35 whose lower end is threaded upon a flanged connector 36 secured by screws 31 to the top of the housing ID. A gasket 38 provides a seal between the flange b and the housing III.

A glass disk 39 is secured in the lower end of the casing 35 by a retainer ring 40 and sealed 3 by gaskets ll on each side. An opening 42 in the top of the housing l9 admits light to the passage l therein. The lamp 32 is operated by a screw 43 threaded into the top of the casing 35 and having a knurled head 44. As the gauge line 2| is reeled or unreeled by the crank 45, therefore, it will pass over the roller [6 before the glazed opening 28 and be viewable therethrough.

It is essential, for safety and the conservation of gas pressures in the tank, to-properly seal the apparatus in the manner described and shut off the pressures therebelow by the slide or gate valve l3, shown in Figure 6, which is operated by the foot pedal or lever 46 in cooperation with the weight 41 connected by the cable 48 to the lever 46. Thus, when the gauge line 2! is lowered into the tank, aided by a weight 49 on its lower end, the valve l3 must obviously be open.

The line 2| is operated between wiping members 50, such as rollers, or suitable stationary devices, which may be attached to the inner opposing ends of inverted L-shaped levers 5!, il-- lustrated in Figures 4 and 5, pivoted at their lower ends at c to a clamp 52 secured about the tube 12. A tension spring 53 is arranged on each side of the levers 5!, their ends being attached to the ends of pins 54 extending from each lever 51 in the manner shown in Figures 4 and 5. The Wiping elements 59 are retained, under the tension of the springs 53, against the line 21.

When the lever 55 is actuated to rotate the link 56, to the ends of which are connected rods 57, each having operative connection with one of the levers 5|, the wiping elements 50 are spaced to permit the free passage of the line 2|, as illus trated in Figures 4 and 5. In operating the mechanism to Wipe the line 2i the lever 55 is moved to cause the parts to assume the dotted line positions illustrated in Figure 4.

The entire wiping assembly is enclosed within a housing 58 formed in two identical parts and connected about the tube [2 by screws 59, or the like, gaskets 60 and 6! being provided to efiect the proper seal. The levers 5| operate through vertically arranged slots 62 in each side of the tube I2.

In operation, therefore, a reading is taken by first opening the valve I3, as by pressure upon the pedal member 46, shown in Figure 6, so that the tape 2| can pass therethrough. The body portion H of the housing [9 should be illuminated by operating the lamp 32 whereupon the tape 2| is lowered into the tank until the weight 49 on the tape reaches the bottom of the tank. After a brief interval the tape 2! is rewound upon the reel 22, by rotating the latter by the crank 45, and is observed through the glazed opening 28 to determine the point where the oil coating on the tape occurs and noting the depth measurement in the tank.

At this point the reel 22 is reversed to lower the tape 2! a few inches so that the oil coating thereon is below the wiping elements whereupon these members are closed upon the tape 2|, by manipulating the lever 55, and the tape is then Wound upon the reel 22 until the lower end of the tape 2|, with its weight 49, is above the valve 13 which is then closed. The wiping elements 50 are preferably released at this stage.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of considerable changes and modifications by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a gauging device for oil tanks for installation in a tank head having a gate valve therein and a tube threadedly secured in the upper end of said valve, in combination, a rectangular housing formed with an interiorly threaded cylindrical portion for securement to the upper end of said tube, the said housing defining a horizontal passage therethrough, a glazed closure for one end of said passage, a detachable casing secured to said housing having a chamber therein open to said passage, a reel rotatably mounted in said chamber having a graduated tape thereon extending through said passage, a roller in said passage supporting said tape to depend concentrically through said tube, a Weight carried by the free end of said tape and a crank externally of said detachable casing for rotating said reel to move said tape before said glazed opening.

PETE McDUFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 577,503 Ash Feb. 23, 1897 1,823,801 Hiatt Sept. 15, 1931 2,006,301 Meyer June 25, 1935 2,102,615 Cubete Dec. 21, 1937 2,158,936 Hennings May 16, 1939 2,226,060 Johnson Dec. 24, 1940 2,282,774 Wiggins May 12, 1942 2,345,054 Korevec Mar. 28, 1944 2,356,347 Parsons Aug. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 291,676 Great Britain June 7, 1928 

